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Notes

Edward Gardner conducts the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra in the opening volume in their series devoted to orchestral works by Leoš Janácek. It features three pieces that originate in Janácek’s late period, when his passionate feelings for Kamila Stösslová, thirty-seven years his junior, inspired an extraordinary flowering of his creative genius.

The Sinfonietta is one of Janácek’s most successful and popular works, famed for its opening movement, a brazen fanfare scored for a phalanx of brass with timpani. The remaining four movements, full of character, celebrate Janácek’s adopted town of Brno, blending occasional reflection with high-voltage exuberance.

Scored unusually for left-hand piano and an ensemble of brass and flute, the Capriccio is remarkable even among Janácek’s distinctive late works. Its overall effect is mercurial and capricious, in the composer’s words: ‘whimsical, all wilfulness and witticisms’. Jean-Efflam Bavouzet employs his formidable technique and interpretative flair in the solo part. The Cunning Little Vixen, Janácek’s opera from 1923, was not universally well received at first.

A number of its orchestral interludes, however, were immediately popular and after Janácek’s death in 1928 Václav Talich, a leading Czech conductor, extracted an orchestral suite, re-orchestrated by two young colleagues. Recently Sir Charles Mackerras restored Janácek’s striking original orchestration, the version recorded here.

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Reviews

“… this recording has some interesting things to say about Janacek, and I look forward to hearing more. Playing and sound are excellent…”

Roger Hecht - American Record Guide - March/April 2015

“…This is a reference recording … Wonderful music, beautifully performed and recorded.”

Graham Rickson - theartsdesk.com - 31 January 2015

“…the players are brilliant and the sound is glorious, very skilfully recorded… Jean-Efflam Bavouzet performs dazzling feats of virtuosity with a truly exacting solo part; and the extraordinary, fascinating textures are displayed by both artists and the recording engineers…”

John Warrack - Gramophone magazine - December 2014

"...Gardner’s way with Janácek’s music is not the only way – but it’s pretty persuasive. The BergenPhilharmonic offer excellent playing throughout this programme and Chandos have recorded theorchestra in warm but well-detailed and well–focused sound. I listened to the SACD layer of thishybrid discs with very satisfactory results. John Tyrrell’s notes are a model of their kind. This, Isuspect, is going to be a rewarding series to follow and this first disc is an auspicious start. I wonder what will come next. I note that Edward Gardner is conducting the Glagolitic Mass in Birmingham and Bergen in March next year so I hope very much that a recording of that blazing masterpiece is on the agenda."

John Quinn - MusicWeb-International.com - 25 November 2014

"This glowing and revealing music is done proud in this present recording."

Colin Anderson - ClassicalSource.com - September 2014

Performance (Sinfonietta) **** (Rest) ***** Recording ****

“… a thoroughly satisfying performance. Altogether this is a most promising start to an excellent project.”

Jan Smaczny - BBC Music magazine - Christmas 2014

“… this disc can be warmly recommended …”

Richard Whitehouse - International Record Review - November 2014

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About Chandos

Chandos Records is one of the world's premier classical music record companies, best known for its ground breaking search for neglected musical gems. The company has pioneered the idea of the 'series' and proudly includes series of such composers as Prokofiev, Tchaikovsky, Parry, Walton, Grainger, Berkeley and Bridge. Renowned for its superb sound quality, Chandos has won many prestigious awards for its natural sound.